BJP-SAD leaders project Badal as next CM

Ajitwal, Moga, Dec 8: Projecting Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal as next Chief Minister of Punjab, former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani and BJP President Rajnath Singh today exhorted the people to vote for the SAD-BJP combine to end the Amarinder Singh Government's ''misrule'' in the state.

Speaking at the Congress Bhagao Punjab Bachao(remove Congress and save Punjab) rally here, Mr Advani said that Punjab which was once most developed and prosperous state of the country was today in a very bad condition and the present Amarinder Singh government was busy only in settling scores with its political adversaries.

He alleged that only evils of corrpution and misrule were prevailing everywhere in the state and the government had no time to take care of people's concerns and problems.

Mr Advani said that assembly elections were due in the state by next two months and the voters should teach corrupt and incapable Congress rulers a lesson and ensure return of the SAD-BJP alliance.

Recalling the time tested ties between the two parties Mr Advani said the SAD had played important role in the growth of BJP over the years and SAD chief Mr Badal had always played key role in maintaining communal harmony and Sikh-Hindu unity in the state. Mr Singh said that all strata of society were facing problems under present government's rule and Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had been wasting time only in filing and pursuing fake cases against political opponents.

He said a large number of farmers had committed suicide but the chief minister is not bothered about it.

He also charged Capt Siongh of ignoring established conventions and decorum of political courtsey while dealing with political adversaries, particularly Mr Badal and his family.

On the electoral prospects, Mr Singh said he was foreseeing people's urge for a change of government in the state and was sure that the people would bring the SAD-BJP combine back in power in the next assembly elections due by next two months.

Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral also praised Mr Badal for his role in strengthening secularism and Sikh Hindu unity in Punjab.

Mr Gujral said that the today Punjab was passing through difficult phase of time and the frustated and unemployed young generation of the state was facing threat from evils and problems including drug addiction.

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala expressed concern over move of setting up of special economic zones(SEZs) at the cost of prime lands of farmers. He also cautioned against entry of big business and industrial houses in retail market and said that these-pro-rich-moves would devastate the economy of famrers and retail shop keepers.

BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley also condemned present government for ''encouraging corruption and filing fake cases against opponents'' and said that the people wanted a change in the state and the Congress government would be ousted in the next assembly elections in the state.

Former MP Navjot Singh Sidhu also expressed his resolve to continue his strugggle against ''corruption and anti people'' policies of Capt Singh.

Mr Badal, former Union Ministers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Sukhbir Singh badal and several others also spoke on the occasion.

UNI